New Short Shifter Kit

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:19 pm

pcmx5 wrote:If you are considering buying one of these and are in doubt about the length of the shaft you can buy a generic extension with a small bend backwards that will fit onto the standard shifter and I guess this one, so you could try the smaller version and if it doesn't suit add the extension.I didn't like the look of it but it certainly made shifting easier and put the shifter near the steering wheel.

Now this would be really useful information if I could remember where I bought the extension or if I had it here to check the brand.Unfortunately I have lent it to someone who reckons I didn't so I can't!!! Sorry.
Peter

Hi Peter
I like the idea of a removable extension!
Any further hints as I have done some searching and can only find a few in the US and they want more than I'm willing to pay for them.

Thanks
Bob

MINX · Postby **MINX** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:28 pm

Update.
After driving couple of hundred KMs this week, I have a more complete opinion of this particular SSK.

Now, If your car is a DD and you are not particularly having trouble finding reverse, 5th to 6th changes etc, then dont waste your $.
Being solid steel, it transmits more NVH, sort of gear noise, whine, only noticeable when roof is up, and radio off etc, but noticeable.
Action is quite mechanical, notchy, takes more pressure/strength, to select gears, but, is far more precise.
I find when it is cold, getting into First takes a bit extra pressure.

Positive- You know exactly which gear you are going to, every time. And it has that mechanical sporty gate feeling.
I think the 'long' version is probably better, the extra leverage would make it easier.(but butt ugly in a DD)

I quite like the 'action' and it would be fine in a weekend car.
But at this stage, I am glad I didnt throw away my old shifter. It may go back in depending on SWMBO opinion.
We are both competing in Motokana this Sunday, so testing 1st and reverse i guess.

Stu

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:48 pm

MINX wrote:Update.
:
But at this stage, I am glad I didnt throw away my old shifter. It may go back in depending on SWMBO opinion.
:
Stu

I needed http://www.acronymfinder.com to find that one (SWMBO)!

I took my car in for some additional Adaptronic e440 tuning today and noticed that it didn't feel as notchy as I remembered when we first installed these.
I wonder if it's because the grease has had a chance to really work itself into the shifter (ie. in and around the "gates") or maybe I've adapted to the new SSK?
I suspect it's a bit of both because the throws are shorter so I'm not hammering the shifter into the "gate" and forcefully hitting the extremity.

I haven't stuffed up a gear change yet so the SSK stays!

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:26 pm

[Peter[/quote]Hi Peter
I like the idea of a removable extension!
Any further hints as I have done some searching and can only find a few in the US and they want more than I'm willing to pay for them.

Thanks
Bob[/quote]

Sorry Bob, i brought it in from the US and it cost around $95 from memory, I thought it was Il motorsport. Has a locking nut and is nicely chromed.Certainly took all the effort out of the shortshifter and retained the improved gear selection that I had had been after by making the change.

Peter

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 2:20 pm

Are there any major differences from year to year with the 6 speed box? My race NA has got a 6 speed in it but I have no idea of what year it is from but I want to get one of the tall shifters.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:25 pm

^^ Doesnt matter...Looks like I have an answer now. Apparently there are differences in the shifter bits.

jerrah · Postby **jerrah** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:49 pm

What are the differences in the 6 speed shifters? I thought all the NB 6 speeds had similar parts?

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:07 pm

Not sure exactly, the guys at Miataroadster need to see a picture of the bottom of the shifter as there is a difference. 99-2000 has one style and 01-05 another style...I do not know if it is just a difference in the short shift kit or is there is a difference in factory parts to.

jerrah · Postby **jerrah** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:29 pm

Minx, how did the short shifter perform at the Motorkhana? I should have tried it out whilst I was in your car!

MINX · Postby **MINX** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:14 pm

jerrah wrote:Minx, how did the short shifter perform at the Motorkhana? I should have tried it out whilst I was in your car!

Well, the motox was not really a good test, as most was in first gear, with just a couple of reversing challenges.
However, i found it fine, I think i have gotten used to it now.
Driving out to Willowbank was Lisa' first time driving the new SSK.
She adapted quickly and found it good, especially 5th and 6th.
However, Reverse is still a problem.
Although it is more defined, and precise, the spring load has increased and it takes quite a bit of force to get it over, past 6, into reverse.
Lisa struggles, strength wise, and has to use two hands.(which she is used to with me anyway, but that is another story! :wink:

)

Watch this video as evidence. (keeping in mind, this is probably only the 5th or 6th time she had tried reverse with the ssk)

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:19 pm

Davex3 wrote:
MINX wrote:Lisa struggles, strength wise, and has to use two hands.(which she is used to with me anyway, but that is another story! )

One to hold the magnifying glass and the other to hold the tweezers?

Which one had the pepper shaker :mrgreen:

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:08 pm

Davex3 wrote:
MINX wrote:Lisa struggles, strength wise, and has to use two hands.(which she is used to with me anyway, but that is another story! )

One to hold the magnifying glass and the other to hold the tweezers?

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:27 pm

And they complain about Dann bringing down the tone of the forum! :lol:

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:27 pm

Had a drive of MINX this morning.... the SSK is easy to use, absolutely no need for heavy gearknobs to help shifting. Mazda should have installed these as factory standard as it feels similar to the standard RX-8 shift-feel/throw.
Very nice indeed.
Still waiting for a play with Lokiel's, I heard it's longer than MINX's. :roll:

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:26 pm

I purchased this stock hight short shift kit for my NB8B from Miataroadster.
Fitted it Saturday, gave it a work-out on a club run today and agree with all the reviews that it transformed the feel and accuracy of the shift.
IMHO I don't find reverse that hard to select either, could be I'm ham fisted :mrgreen:

deviant wrote:Not sure exactly, the guys at Miataroadster need to see a picture of the bottom of the shifter as there is a difference. 99-2000 has one style and 01-05 another style...I do not know if it is just a difference in the short shift kit or is there is a difference in factory parts to.

As deviant has found, there are 2 types of 6speed boxes and they don't align by year or model.
I have a Jan 01 build NB8B and ordered the kit for a 2001 to 2005. When I tried to install the selector bushing it was too big.
The older box uses a 19mm bushing and the later is a 22mm bushing, as far as I can establish this is the only difference between the kits.
I ended up using the OEM bush from my old shifter with the later kit and it works brilliantly.

I would recommend anyone buying this kit for a very early 2001 NB8B ask Miataroadster to include both bushes.
I would also recommend anyone with a 6speed consider buying this SSK.